Chief Executive Officer

LEAD Monrovia Football Academy

Location: Monrovia, Liberia; flexibility to spend 3-6 months of the year abroad for fundraising and partnership purposes

Position Type: Full-time

Reports to: LEAD MFA Board of Directors

Role Summary

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) serves as the primary strategic and external-facing leader of LEAD Monrovia Football Academy (LEAD MFA). The CEO will be responsible for advancing the organization’s mission to develop ethical, empathetic, and entrepreneurial leaders through high-quality education and sport. Working closely with the Board of Directors and in alignment with LEAD Edu’s network-wide initiatives, the Executive Director will shape LEAD MFA’s strategic vision, promote innovation and scaling of impact, build external relationships, secure sustainable funding, and provide high-level oversight of operations and programs to ensure organizational excellence.

LEAD Monrovia Football Academy (LEAD MFA) is an independent, nonprofit organization based in Liberia that provides Liberia’s talented youth with full-time academic classes, football training, and life skills lessons to improve academic performance, break down gender barriers, and prepare our students to lead positive change in Liberia.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision Setting (20%)

• Develop and execute a comprehensive 3-year strategic plan with financial projections that align with a clear organizational mission and vision in collaboration with the Board of Directors and LEAD Edu.
• Set and communicate ambitious yet achievable annual goals across all departments.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand and deepen the impact of existing LEAD MFA programs.
• Launch new programs that meet the needs of Liberia’s education, sport, and youth development ecosystems.
• Partner with the Board Chair to ensure effective governance and board engagement
• Lead strategic planning sessions with the leadership team and the Board
• Represent LEAD MFA in LEAD network strategic planning initiatives

External Relations & Development (50%)

• Serve as the Academy’s primary external representative and spokesperson
• Build organizational reputation through public speaking and high-level networking
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships both locally and abroad with key stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, sports organizations, and peer nonprofits
• Lead fundraising efforts both locally and abroad by identifying and pursuing new strategic funding opportunities, stewarding donor relationships, and managing key foundation and corporate partnerships
• Collaborate with LEAD Edu on network-wide fundraising initiatives
• Oversee and ensure a high-quality external messaging and communications strategy
• Increase LEAD MFA visibility through media engagement and community outreach

High-level Organizational Oversight (20%)

• Provide vision and direction for all Academy operations and programs
• Ensure financial sustainability through strategic resource allocation and budget oversight
• Work closely with the Deputy Director/COO to ensure operational excellence
• Make decisive policy and procedural changes to ensure organizational effectiveness
• Ensure compliance with LEAD Edu operational grant requirements and quality standards
• Provide final approval on key organizational decisions and resource allocations
• Lead proactive problem-solving for high-level organizational challenges
• Ensure organizational compliance with national and local regulations

Team Leadership & Development (10%)

• Directly supervise the Chief Operating Officer and other senior leadership team members..
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative work culture that balances excellence with well-being..
• Lead organizational talent strategy to attract and retain exceptional staff..
• Facilitate professional development opportunities for leadership team members..
• Model LEAD’s values and professional standards.
• Support the Deputy Director/COO in building internal management capacity.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred in education, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field
• 7+ years of leadership experience in education, youth development, or nonprofit management ● Experience working across different geographies and cultures
• Proven track record in nonprofit fundraising and donor relations, with a strong knowledge of the funder ecosystem (global foundations, corporate, government agencies, etc.)
• Excellent command of technology systems, particularly Google tools
• Experience managing boards and building effective governance structures
• Strong financial management and budgeting experience
• Excellence in stakeholder engagement and relationship building
• Demonstrated success in organizational leadership and growth
• Commitment to LEAD MFA’s mission of developing ethical, empathetic, and entrepreneurial leaders Preferred
• Experience in sports-based youth development programs
• Knowledge of the Liberian education landscape and educational policy
• Previous experience working in West Africa
• Demonstrated success in achieving financial sustainability for nonprofit organizations
• Experience managing international partnerships and cross-cultural teams
• Previous experience working with similar network-based organizations

Key Competencies

• Strategic vision and execution
• Tech savviness
• Leadership and team development
• Fundraising and relationship building
• Financial stewardship
• Board management
• Public speaking and external relations
• Cross-cultural communication
• Change management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Strategic partnership development

To Apply

To apply, please submit the following to hiring@monroviafa.com with the subject line “Chief Executive Officer – Your Full Name”:

• A one to two-page resume in PDF
• A statement of interest (maximum 300 words) in a separate PDF explaining why you are a good fit for this position